Needle protection assembly

Abstract

A collar to which a needle protection housing is attached has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the collar has a number of internal protrusions that are fitted within the space defined by the two sets of flanges extending from the proximal portion of a needle hub. The distal end of the collar has a number of fingers or retainers that are used to grasp and removably couple a needle sheath. The needle sheath covers the needle that extends from the distal end of the needle hub before use. A needle protection housing is pivotally connected to the collar, and is pivoted to cover the needle after use. A channel or opening in the protective housing through which the needle passes is formed by a pair of progressively angled lips that extend longitudinally along the length of the housing.

1. Apparatus, comprising:
 a needle hub having a longitudinal axis and a needle extending from one of its ends; 
 a collar rotatably mounted about said needle hub; 
 a needle sheath removably attached to said collar for covering said needle extending from said needle hub prior to its use; and 
 a housing connected to said collar and pivotable to a position substantially in alignment along said longitudinal axis of said needle hub for covering said needle after said needle sheath is removed from said collar; 
 wherein said housing has a longitudinal opening formed by first and second lips each extending along substantially the length of said housing, said first lip overlapping a portion of said second lip with said opening being off centered from said longitudinal axis, each of said lips being angled toward the interior of said housing with the respective angles of said lips being varied along the length of said housing to effect a guide for said needle to smoothly enter into said housing at an angle through said opening when said housing is pivoted to cover said needle, said needle not removable from said housing once said needle fully enters into said housing. 
 
   
   
     2. Needle protection apparatus, comprising a collar having pivotally attached thereto a housing, said housing having a longitudinal opening formed by first and second lips each extending substantially along the length of said housing, said first lip overlapping a portion of said second lip with said opening being off centered, each of said lips being angled toward the interior of said housing with the respective angles of each of said lips being varied along the length of said housing, said collar rotatably mounted about a needle hub having a needle extending therefrom, wherein when said housing is pivotally moved relative to said collar to cover said needle, said needle is guided by said lips to smoothly enter into said housing, said needle not removable from said housing once said needle has fully entered into said housing. 
   
   
     3. Needle protection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said collar comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, a plurality of protrusions formed at the interior surface of said proximal portion of said collar for fitting within a space defined by spaced flanges extending transversely from a proximal portion of said needle hub, said collar rotatable about said needle hub when said protrusions are fitted within said space, said collar further comprising a plurality of fingers at said distal portion of its interior surface to engage a rim at the open end of a needle sheath removably coupled to said collar to cover said needle prior to use, said needle sheath being removable from said collar when said needle is to be used. 
   
   
     4. Needle protection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said collar has formed at its outer surface at least two catch members and wherein said housing has formed at its proximal end at least two corresponding apertures, said catch members matingly coupled to said apertures to fixedly retain said housing to said collar once said housing is pivoted to cover said needle. 
   
   
     5. A method of making a medical needle assembly, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a needle hub having a proximal portion and a distal portion; 
 b) extending a needle from said distal portion of said hub; 
 c) rotatably mounting a collar about said needle hub, said collar having at the inner surface of its distal end at least one retainer; and 
 d) attaching a needle sheath to said collar for covering said needle prior to its use, said needle sheath being retained by said retainer; 
 wherein the effecting step further comprising the steps of: 
 effecting along substantially the length of said housing first and second lips for forming said longitudinal opening; 
 overlapping a portion of said first lip over said second lip to effect said off centered opening; and 
 angling each of said lips toward the interior of said housing with the respective angles of said lips being varied along the length of said housing to enable said lips to smoothly guide said needle through said opening into said housing when said housing is pivoted to cover said needle, said needle not removable from said housing once said needle fully enters into said housing.